Fludd (band)
Encyclopedia
Fludd was a Canadian
rock band in the 1970s, best known for their 1973 hit "Cousin Mary".
The band had its roots in a band called The Pretty Ones, formed by Ed Pilling and Greg Godovitz. The band was briefly part of Toronto
's Yorkville
scene in the 1960s, but broke up before achieving much commercial success. Pilling and his brother Brian then moved to Birmingham
, England
, where they formed a band called Wages of Sin and spent some time touring as a backing band for Cat Stevens
in 1970, but returned to Toronto by the end of that year. Inspired by the then-emerging psychedelic blues rock sound of British acts such as Small Faces, they then reunited with Godovitz, and recruited drummer John Andersen and guitarist Mick Walsh to create Fludd.
The band released its self-titled debut album in 1971, and had a modest chart hit, "Turned 21", that year. Walsh subsequently left the band and was briefly replaced by Mick Hopkins, a British guitarist whom the Pillings had worked with in Wages of Sin. The band's second single, "Get Up, Get Out, Move On", was released in 1972 but again charted only modestly, and the band were dropped from their original label; Hopkins returned to England, where he would later form the band Quartz
. Instead of recruiting another guitarist to replace Hopkins, the band instead added keyboardist Peter Csanky, and signed a new deal with Daffodil Records. They planned for their second album to be titled Cock On, and to feature a cover image of the band posing as flasher
s, wearing overcoats but naked underneath, but the label's distributor, Capitol Records
, was skittish and the plans were dropped; the album was instead released as ...On!
The album's singles, "Always Be Thinking of You", "Yes" and "C'mon, C'mon", did not perform much better on the charts, but received sufficient radio airplay that Daffodil kept the band on for a third album, sending them to Mike Oldfield
's studios in England to record. Due to Oldfield's simultaneous recording of Tubular Bells
, however, the band faced delays in its ability to book time in the studio, and the sessions were eventually scrapped. The delays also led Csanky to quit the band; he was replaced by Peter Rochon. With no new material to release, however, the label revisited ...On! in the hopes of pulling one more single; the song chosen, "Cousin Mary", became the band's breakthrough hit.
The band began new recording sessions in Toronto, completing three songs, "I Held Out", "Brother and Me" and "Dance Gypsy Dance", in 1974. "I Held Out" was released as a non-album single but failed to chart, and Daffodil dropped the band. Godovitz left the band at this time, going on to form Goddo
, and was replaced by Doni Underhill of the band Leigh Ashford
. Brian Pilling was also diagnosed with leukemia
around this time, and had difficulty meeting his commitments to the band due to treatment; while he did not leave the band outright, Underhill's Leigh Ashford bandmate Gord Waszek also came on board as a second guitarist. Andersen took a brief hiatus from the band as well, and was temporarily replaced by Pat Little, but returned before the sessions for their next album.
The band subsequently signed to Attic Records
, who also bought out the non-album songs from the 1974 sessions; both songs were released as singles, with "Brother and Me" reaching the Top 30 but "Dance Gypsy Dance" failing to chart. The band then began recording its third full album, Great Expectations, which was released on Attic in 1975. Bolstered by a controversial cover depicting a pregnant woman's bare belly, that album spawned the top ten hit single "What an Animal". Due to Brian Pilling's continued health problems, the band was unable to tour to properly support the album, so Waszek, Underhill and Andersen left to form the band Fingers, while the Pillings carried on as a recording project with bassist Jim Crichton and drummer Ian McCorkle, recording and releasing the single "I'm On My Way" in 1975; Steve Negus
replaced McCorkle in 1976 for the singles "Help Me Back" and "With You". However, with Brian Pilling's health continuing to deteriorate, the band called it quits after recording the 1976 singles, and Attic Records released the greatest hits
compilation From the Attic '71 to '77 in 1977.
Crichton, Negus and Rochon went on to form the band Saga
. Waszek went on to join reunion lineups of Leigh Ashford and Motherlode
, Andersen became a session musician and Underhill went on to join Trooper
.
Brian Pilling died of cancer on June 28, 1978. As a benefit to raise money for his children, Godovitz put together a band of Toronto musicians, including Bob Segarini
, to record a tribute single consisting of "Fortune in Men's Eyes", an unrecorded song he had previously written with Pilling, and a remake of Fludd's song "Homemade Lady".
Another greatest hits compilation, Greatest Expectations, was released in 1994 on Pacemaker Records, and ...On! was reissued in 2001 under its original planned title Cock On, on Unidisc Music.
Godovitz and Ed Pilling reunited in 1997, recording an album under the band name No Flies on Frank. In the 2000s, a reunited Fludd has toured various classic rock
festivals and other venues, with a lineup consisting of Ed Pilling, his younger brother Steve Pilling, Steve Shelski on guitar, Jim Crichton on bass and Dan Todd on drums. This lineup released a new CD, Fludd Lights, in 2006 for sale at their concert appearances, but the album has never been released on a commercial label.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock band in the 1970s, best known for their 1973 hit "Cousin Mary".
The band had its roots in a band called The Pretty Ones, formed by Ed Pilling and Greg Godovitz. The band was briefly part of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's Yorkville
Yorkville, Toronto
Yorkville is a district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, well known for its shopping. It is a former village, annexed by the City of Toronto. It is roughly bounded by Bloor Street to the south, Davenport Road to the north, Yonge Street to the east and Avenue Road to the west, and is considered part of...
scene in the 1960s, but broke up before achieving much commercial success. Pilling and his brother Brian then moved to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where they formed a band called Wages of Sin and spent some time touring as a backing band for Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens
Yusuf Islam , commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam....
in 1970, but returned to Toronto by the end of that year. Inspired by the then-emerging psychedelic blues rock sound of British acts such as Small Faces, they then reunited with Godovitz, and recruited drummer John Andersen and guitarist Mick Walsh to create Fludd.
The band released its self-titled debut album in 1971, and had a modest chart hit, "Turned 21", that year. Walsh subsequently left the band and was briefly replaced by Mick Hopkins, a British guitarist whom the Pillings had worked with in Wages of Sin. The band's second single, "Get Up, Get Out, Move On", was released in 1972 but again charted only modestly, and the band were dropped from their original label; Hopkins returned to England, where he would later form the band Quartz
Quartz (metal band)
-History:Quartz dates back to as early as 1974 when they were known as Bandy Legs. They signed to Jet Records in 1976 and supported Black Sabbath and AC/DC. The band changed their name to Quartz for their 1977 debut album, Quartz. The album was produced by Tony Iommi and Quartz toured with Black...
. Instead of recruiting another guitarist to replace Hopkins, the band instead added keyboardist Peter Csanky, and signed a new deal with Daffodil Records. They planned for their second album to be titled Cock On, and to feature a cover image of the band posing as flasher
Indecent exposure
Indecent exposure is the deliberate exposure in public or in view of the general public by a person of a portion or portions of his or her body, in circumstances where the exposure is contrary to local moral or other standards of appropriate behavior. Indecent exposure laws vary in different...
s, wearing overcoats but naked underneath, but the label's distributor, Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, was skittish and the plans were dropped; the album was instead released as ...On!
The album's singles, "Always Be Thinking of You", "Yes" and "C'mon, C'mon", did not perform much better on the charts, but received sufficient radio airplay that Daffodil kept the band on for a third album, sending them to Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
's studios in England to record. Due to Oldfield's simultaneous recording of Tubular Bells
Tubular Bells
Tubular Bells is the debut record album of English musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1973. It was the first album released by Virgin Records and an early cornerstone of the company's success...
, however, the band faced delays in its ability to book time in the studio, and the sessions were eventually scrapped. The delays also led Csanky to quit the band; he was replaced by Peter Rochon. With no new material to release, however, the label revisited ...On! in the hopes of pulling one more single; the song chosen, "Cousin Mary", became the band's breakthrough hit.
The band began new recording sessions in Toronto, completing three songs, "I Held Out", "Brother and Me" and "Dance Gypsy Dance", in 1974. "I Held Out" was released as a non-album single but failed to chart, and Daffodil dropped the band. Godovitz left the band at this time, going on to form Goddo
Goddo
Goddo is a Canadian band formed in 1975. Goddo had mixed major label success from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. After reforming in 1989, they revived their career with several new studio and 'best of' packages...
, and was replaced by Doni Underhill of the band Leigh Ashford
Leigh Ashford
Leigh Ashford was a rock group formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and which existed between 1966 and 1974.- History :The group was formed in 1967 by, the guitarist Gord Waszek, drummer Dave Cairns, bassist Joe Agnello and keyboard player Newton Garwood. In 1969, record producer Jack Richardson...
. Brian Pilling was also diagnosed with leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
around this time, and had difficulty meeting his commitments to the band due to treatment; while he did not leave the band outright, Underhill's Leigh Ashford bandmate Gord Waszek also came on board as a second guitarist. Andersen took a brief hiatus from the band as well, and was temporarily replaced by Pat Little, but returned before the sessions for their next album.
The band subsequently signed to Attic Records
Attic Records (Canada)
Attic Records was a Canadian independent record label, founded in 1974 by Alexander Mair and Tom Williams. The label was known for developing Canadian talent, including Anvil, Lee Aaron, Maestro Fresh Wes, The Nylons, Teenage Head, and Triumph...
, who also bought out the non-album songs from the 1974 sessions; both songs were released as singles, with "Brother and Me" reaching the Top 30 but "Dance Gypsy Dance" failing to chart. The band then began recording its third full album, Great Expectations, which was released on Attic in 1975. Bolstered by a controversial cover depicting a pregnant woman's bare belly, that album spawned the top ten hit single "What an Animal". Due to Brian Pilling's continued health problems, the band was unable to tour to properly support the album, so Waszek, Underhill and Andersen left to form the band Fingers, while the Pillings carried on as a recording project with bassist Jim Crichton and drummer Ian McCorkle, recording and releasing the single "I'm On My Way" in 1975; Steve Negus
Steve Negus
Steve Negus is a Canadian drummer and songwriter who was a member of the progressive rock band Saga for twenty-six years.-Biography:While playing at Larry's Hideaway, a club in Toronto, Steve Negus' drumming came to the attention of the Canadian rock band, Fludd. The band was searching for a new...
replaced McCorkle in 1976 for the singles "Help Me Back" and "With You". However, with Brian Pilling's health continuing to deteriorate, the band called it quits after recording the 1976 singles, and Attic Records released the greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
compilation From the Attic '71 to '77 in 1977.
Crichton, Negus and Rochon went on to form the band Saga
Saga (band)
Saga is a progressive rock quintet, formed in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Jim Crichton and Welsh-born vocalist Michael Sadler have been the principal songwriters for Saga. Ian Crichton is the band's guitarist; apart from his work with Saga, he has recorded several solo albums as well as sessions...
. Waszek went on to join reunion lineups of Leigh Ashford and Motherlode
Motherlode (band)
Motherlode was a Canadian pop rock group formed in 1969 in London, Ontario. The group scored some success in the US with their single, "When I Die", which hit #18 on the U.S...
, Andersen became a session musician and Underhill went on to join Trooper
Trooper (band)
Trooper is a Juno Award winning Canadian rock band that developed from a group formed by vocalist Ramon McGuire and guitarist Brian Smith in 1975...
.
Brian Pilling died of cancer on June 28, 1978. As a benefit to raise money for his children, Godovitz put together a band of Toronto musicians, including Bob Segarini
Bob Segarini
Bob Segarini is a recording artist, singer, songwriter, composer and radio host. During a professional music career primarily developed between 1968 and the early 1980s, Segarani was particularly popular in Canada...
, to record a tribute single consisting of "Fortune in Men's Eyes", an unrecorded song he had previously written with Pilling, and a remake of Fludd's song "Homemade Lady".
Another greatest hits compilation, Greatest Expectations, was released in 1994 on Pacemaker Records, and ...On! was reissued in 2001 under its original planned title Cock On, on Unidisc Music.
Godovitz and Ed Pilling reunited in 1997, recording an album under the band name No Flies on Frank. In the 2000s, a reunited Fludd has toured various classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
festivals and other venues, with a lineup consisting of Ed Pilling, his younger brother Steve Pilling, Steve Shelski on guitar, Jim Crichton on bass and Dan Todd on drums. This lineup released a new CD, Fludd Lights, in 2006 for sale at their concert appearances, but the album has never been released on a commercial label.
Discography
- Fludd (1971)
- ...On! (1972)
- Great Expectations (1975)
- From the Attic '71 to '77 (1977)
- Greatest Expectations (1994)
- Cock On! (2001)
- Fludd Lights (2006)